Riccar Supralite problem

[sprockkets]

I recently bought two of them off ebay. One was an RSL3 and worked great for about a week. Then all of a sudden if I tilt the handle to the left or right (as from looking from the front or back of the vac), it will start catching the fan and rub against it and give off a smell, along with a not so nice sounding noise.

I opened it up and seen a part of the fan that's near the motor side and a part of it has been worn down. I don't really see much of anything to stop it from going left or right in the housing, so I'm not sure what could be done to fix it aside from perhaps replacing the entire base.

The second one I got, an RSL5.2 has the same issue but not as apparent if on the low setting.

Anyone else experience this?

 

[fantomfan57]

Me too!

Mine was with Simplicity Freedom (Sister to Riccar), Found cracked housing pieces which allowed for movement which shattered the fan.

I repaired the cracks with my crazy glue/ baking soda fix and replaced the fan.

Fixed it right up!

Sounds like internal damage is causing the housing to move contrary to design and cause further damage.

If I find another, I will know what to look for...in fact, experience has allowed me to spot potential problems with any target Thrift vacuums. I have even gotten reductions because I showed them the damage and said I would get it for parts.

 

[sprockkets]

OK so I'm assuming it is the bottom plate somewhere? I'm willing to replace it for $40 just to get it over with.

 

[dysonman1]

No. You don't need to replace the bottom plate. There are three plastic (fairly inexpensive) pieces that keep the fan/fan case in perfect alignment. More than likely, one is broken. More than likely, it's the curved piece that is sandwiched between the fan case and covers the suction path.

 

[panasonicvac]

I was about to say the same thing about those pieces. I've seen those happen on the Simplicity Freedoms when those come in for repair once a while at my current vacuum store.

 

[dysonman1]

These three pieces are sandwiched together.

 

[dysonman1]

It's probably this piece that's bad.

 

[dysonman1]

This is how they go together.

 

[kirbysthebest]

I'm thinking this part is getting worn on my RSL4.  It isn't making any grinding noises or anything, but it throws dust out from under the hood, enough that it clouds the headlight window.